Former Warriors, St Helens and Parramatta Eels coach Daniel Anderson has opened up on the “harrowing” experience that left him a quadriplegic after a freak bodysurfing accident five months ago.
The incident occurred at Soldiers Beach near Norah Head with the 2002 Dally M coach of the year rushed to Royal North Shore Hospital.
Speaking in a candid interview with Phil Gould on Nine’s 100% Footy, Anderson agreed life does change quickly.
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“It was a freak (accident), I’ve been body surfing my whole life, been dumped a few times, but yeah it does change,” he said.
“It would’ve been harrowing for my family, they were the ones that were there, they would’ve seen me on the beach. I’ve still got the scar from the CPR, broke a few ribs, it was a life and death sort of situation.”
Anderson also confirmed the injuries sustained caused him to suffer a cardiac arrest.
“I think that’s all part of it too, so I got dragged from the water and then revived; police escort with an ambulance; helicopter – it would’ve been worse for my family because they would’ve watched all this,” he said.
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The World Club Challenge-winning coach revealed he was aware of the seriousness “very early on” when he was staying in the Intensive Care Unit at Royal North Shore and “basically couldn’t move anything”.
He has officially been diagnosed as a quadriplegic with no certainty around how well he’ll progress.
Despite the trauma suffered, Anderson has managed to return in some capacity to his recruitment role at the Sydney Roosters, and light-heartedly warned Bulldogs general manager Gould that some of the club’s youngsters are on his radar.
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“I do 10 hours a week, still doing recruitment, watching all the games, looking to get all the young Doggies players out of the Harold Matthews (competition),” he laughed.
“(The Roosters have been) very supportive, I can’t thank (chairman) Nick Politis, (CEO) Joe Kelly and Trent Robinson enough.”
Anderson added he’s still positive that quality progression can be made over the next period.
“I would like to try and be better still over the next 12 to 18 months, I think the road’s still there for me to travel down,” he said.
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